By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) commemorated the 107th anniversary of the birth of Oliver Reginald Tambo, a revered anti-apartheid leader, visionary, and former president of the ANC.
Tambo was the party’s leader from 1967 to 1991.
The longest-serving ANC president died from a stroke in 1993, shortly after witnessing the death of South African Communist Party (SACP) general-secretary Chris Hani.
The ANC paid tribute to Tambo at its National Executive Committee meeting in Benoni in eastern Johannesburg.
On Sunday, the party leaders went to lay wreaths at his grave site here in Boksburg.
Tambo is hailed as a leader who not only served the party with dignity and honour but as a stalwart who devoted his life to fighting oppression.
Tambo’s daughter, Nomathemba, said she is happy that her father has left a lasting legacy.
“There are so many ways that OR Tambo is being honoured, how he’s being remembered. All I can say is keep remembering and keep honouring him.”
Gauteng ANC chairperson Panyaza Lesufi says that the party will not betray Tambo’s legacy, despite the electoral setback encountered at the 29 May polls.
“We owe it to him, to declare to him that unfortunately on the 29 May this year we suffered a major setback. We owe it to him, to declare to OR Tambo that regardless of this setback, regardless of this pain, regardless of these difficult challenges, betrayal is not an option. We’ll never betray you OR Tambo, we’ll never betray your soul, we’ll never betray your legacy.”
ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has called for the speedy renewal of the party to boost its support in memory of Tambo.
“We can take short cuts but the truth of the matter is that we lost. That is why restoration fits the theme of today’s celebration of Oliver Tambo. Because we must regain the control of the country and the political space as the ANC.”
However, he said the ANC will have to work hard to get back into top shape.
“We must remember that it is the primary responsibility of the ANC to mobilise every class and stratum of society.”
October is Oliver Tambo’s birth month; he was born on 27 October 1917 in Bizana, Eastern Cape, and later settled in Wattville, Ekurhuleni.